Elizabeth Banks Interview — Meet the What to Expect Movie Star!

Updated: December 30, 2013

Actress Elizabeth Banks is all too familiar with a prosthetic stomach. The funnywoman rocked a faux baby bump on the set ofScrubsand30 Rockbefore she took it to the big screen in theWhat to Expect When You’re Expectingmovie. But though her belly may be totally fake, her portrayal of the trials of pregnancy is all too real. Look no further than her candid confession in the movie’strailer: “Pregnancy sucks. Making a human being is really hard!”

Thankfully, Elizabeth was much more pleasant off screen when WhatToExpect.com met up with her in Atlanta after a long day of shooting scenes for the film. And it’s no wonder that this Emmy nominee is an old pro at turning on the charm — she’s been on the acting scene since her breakthrough role in 2001’sWet Hot American Summer, where she got to split the screen with a slew of then-up-and-coming stars, including Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, and Bradley Cooper. Fast forward to a jam-packed 2012 — she's played a police psychologist in the thrillerMan on a Ledgeand the outrageous Effie in the belovedHunger Gamestrilogy. But her favorite role to date (aside from starring inWhat to Expect When You're Expecting, of course) is being a mother to her baby boy Felix, whom she and husband Max Handelman welcomed in March 2011 via surrogate.

So hear all about, well, what to expect from the film straight from one of the movie’s stars, plus get her take on parenthood — including her most embarrassing (and LOL-worthy) mom moment and her advice for her fellow working mamas — in this exclusive Q&A.